Samuel's breakout year gathers pace

When Habtom Samuel made a winning half-marathon debut in Houston in January, it offered an early glimpse of what would become a remarkable season.

The Eritrean, still in the middle of his collegiate career at the University of New Mexico, produced a course record of 59:01 – the fourth-fastest half marathon ever run on US soil at the time – to defeat a field packed with experienced road racers.

Five months later, that performance looks less like a surprise and more like the beginning of something bigger.

Two months after his run in Houston, he won the NCAA indoor 5000m title. More recently, he completed the 5000m-10,000m double at the outdoor NCAA Championships. He has also set Eritrean records at 3000m indoors (7:39.62), two miles (8:11.47) and 5000m outdoors (12:57.22) during a year in which he has won 11 of his 13 races.

For an athlete who arrived in the United States with world U20 medals already to his name, this has been the season in which his talent has translated into consistent success. The foundations for that breakthrough were already visible in Houston.

“I really felt the plan coming together around the 10th mile,” said Samuel.

“When Patrick Kiprop moved to the front and made a strong surge, I didn't react immediately. I gave myself just enough time before committing to the chase.”

That patience proved decisive. As the race entered its closing stages, Samuel gradually reeled in the leaders before taking control and driving away to victory.

“When I realised the course record was within reach, I felt a mix of happiness, pride and disbelief,” he said. “This was my debut, and the record was already very fast. The athletes who held it before are incredible, so to be in that position meant a lot.”

The performance also provided confirmation that he could compete beyond the collegiate circuit.

“In that moment, I realised that I belong at this level.”

Samuel's journey to that point began far from the major road races and stadiums where he now competes.

Growing up in Debresina, a village in Eritrea, running was initially part of daily life rather than organised sport. Long journeys to school helped build the endurance that would later serve him so well, while life in a large family instilled discipline and responsibility from an early age.

Those qualities helped him emerge as one of Eritrea's brightest young talents. He won bronze medals at the World U20 Championships over 3000m in Nairobi in 2021 and 5000m in Cali in 2022 before making the move to the United States and joining the University of New Mexico programme.

The transition brought new challenges, but it also accelerated his development. Houston was intended as an opportunity to test himself in a different environment.

"Houston is widely regarded as one of the fastest half-marathon courses in the United States, and it fits perfectly into Habtom's competitive calendar," said his agent, Kimberly Holland.

"This was about testing himself on the roads and seeing how he stacked up against experienced professional athletes outside of track and cross country."

The answer arrived quickly.

"Running one of the fastest half marathons ever on US soil makes one thing clear," Holland said. "Habtom Samuel has a very bright future ahead of him after his collegiate eligibility."

Back in Albuquerque, however, Samuel's coaches were not entirely surprised.

"I was very happy – and impressed – with how patient he was early," said University of New Mexico head coach Darren Gauson. "He ran completely within himself for the first 10 miles. The plan was always to start progressing as the course turned back toward the city."

Gauson believes the result was the product of months of preparation.

"After cross country and the 5000m in Boston (Samuel ran 13:05.21 indoors in early December), we put together a really solid training block," he said.

"There was one workout that stood out – six miles hard, a three-minute recovery, then another three miles. After that, I knew he was ready to do something special."

The performances that followed during the indoor and outdoor seasons only strengthened that belief.

Samuel opened his year with national records over two miles and 3000m indoors before adding another over 5000m outdoors. Along the way came NCAA titles, conference crowns and a dominant distance double at the outdoor NCAA Championships, improving on the runner-up finishes he achieved at both distances last year.

For Gauson, the improvements have not been limited to fitness alone.

"He's incredibly aerobically gifted," he said. "But what's really improved is his decision-making. He knows when to make decisive moves that will stick and win races."

Despite his success on the roads, Samuel's immediate ambitions remain focused on the track.

"My main focus will always be my commitments to UNM and NCAA competition," he said earlier this year. "But road racing helps me learn more about my fitness and prepare for the future."

That future remains full of possibilities.

"We want to continue developing his aerobic base before shifting toward more speed-specific work," said Gauson.

"He has big goals – running well under 13 minutes and breaking the collegiate 10,000m record outdoors – and we feel we're right on track."

For Samuel, the achievements of 2026 represent another step forward in a career that has been steadily building since his days as a junior athlete in Eritrea.

Having already enjoyed success on the roads, cross country and the track this year, he will now look to carry that momentum into the next phase of his career.

Robert Kibet for World Athletics